Mail-chute.



W. BRIGGS & R. H: SCOTT.

MAIL OHUTE.

AFPLIOATION FILED MAY 14, 1912.

1,066,990, Patented July 8, 1913.

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W. BRIGGS & R. H. SCOTT.

MAIL OHUTE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 14, 1912.

1,066,990, Patented July 8,1913.

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UNITED STARS a rn r ornicn.

MAIL- CHUTE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 8, 1913.

Application filed May 14, 1912. Serial No. 697,353.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that we, WVILLIAM Barons and ROBERT IT. Scoir'r, citizens of the United States, residing at Youngstown, in the county of h lahoning and State. of Ohio, have invented new and useful Improvements in h lail-( hutes, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to a mail, chute, and more particularly to the class of suction motor operated mail chutes.

The primary object of the invention is the provision of a mail chute wherein mail matter may be conveyed through the medium of suction from a receiving station or stations to a delivery station, thus obviating the necessity of handling the mail in the ordinary well-known manner.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a mail chute in which the major portion thereof is located beneath the ground surface while the receiving portion thereof is located on a branch above the ground surface and the delivery portion lo cated on another branch extending into a depository whereby all mail matter deposited within the chute may be conveyed to a common point, for distribution, thus obviating the necessity of collecting the mail from letter boxes as usual.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a mail chute of this character which is simple in construction, thoroughly reliable and efficient in its operation, and inexpensive in manufacture.

WVith these and other objects in view the invention consists in the construction, combination and arrangemet of parts as will be hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and pointed out in the claim hereunto appended.

In the drawings :Figure 1 is a side elevation of a mail chute constructed in accordance with the invention, the side walk or ground being broken away to show the point of location of the major portion of the chute. Fig. 2 is a vertical, longitudinal, sectional view through the chute. Fig. 3 is a sectional View on the line 33 looking in the direction of the arrow. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of an envelop adapted for use in a mail. chute. Fig. 5 is a vertical, longitudinal, sectional view thereof.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views in the drawings.

Referring to the drawings by numerals, the mail chute comprises a rectangularshapcd tube or pipe 5, which may be made from a plurality of sections of any desirable length, so that the tube will extend from one point to another, the said tube being preferably made from metal, although it may be made from any other suitable material if desired.

At one end of the tube 5 is formed a branch 6 which extends upwardly at right angles thereto above the round surface 7, while the tube 5 is embedded in the ground at a point below the surface 7 thereof, so as to extend in a horizontal plane and mounted upon the branch (3 is a letter receiver preferably in the form of a box 8, the outer open end of which is normally closed by the hinged cover or lid 9, provided with a finger hold 10 so that the said lid or cover can be raised or lowered when desired. On the raising of the lid or cover mail matter may be deposited within the receiver for conveying the said mail matter in a manner presently described.

Located at the opposite end of the tube 5 within a suitable inclosure is a suction motor 11 which may be of any preferred type and is designed to effect a continuous suction in the tube a for the conveying of mail matter deposited therein to a common point. It is of course understood that any number of mail receivers may be connected with the tube 5 for communication therewith whereby mail matter may be conveniently deposited in the chute to be conveyed therethrough to the common point for distribution.

Connected to and depending from the tube 5 is a curved discharge branch 12 which is located within an inclosure of any suitable type forming the common center for the deposit of the mail matter from the chute, the branch 12 being formed with a foraminous side wall 13 at its inner end for forming a partition across the entire space interiorly of the tube 5 so as to prevent mail matter within the tube from passing the discharge branch 12 at the point of communication thereof with the said tube, thereby obviating the possibility of the mail matter being conveyed through the tube 5 to the suction motor. but in this manner the said mail matter will be directed into the discharge branch 12 and thence into a suitable receiver below the same. The foraminous partition 13 will not interfere with the suction from the motor 11 and Within the tube 5 of the chute.

Adapted to be used in connection with the mail chute is a specially constructed envelop which comprises a body 14 of the ordinary form. The same when sealed and containing mail matter carries a bellowslike wing 15, which is adapted to spread on the insertion of the envelop 14 within the receiver 8, so as to permit the suction to impinge against the wing 15 thereby causing the envelop to be conveyed through the chute 5 and discharge through the branch 12 into a suitable receiver at a common point after said envelop has been deposited in the receiver 8 of the chute.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, it is thought that the construction and operation of the invention will be clearly understood, and therefore, a more extended explanation has been omitted.

is claimed is z' The combination with a suction conveyer tube and a device for creating suction therein, of a carrier comprising a flat body having a sealing flap, and a bellows-like wing engaged with one end of the body and adapted to be spread on the insertion of the envelop in the conveyer tube to permit the suction therein to impinge against the Wing for moving the said carrier through the tube.

In testimony whereof We affix our signatures in presence of two Witnesses.

WILLIAM BRIGGS. ROBERT H. SCOTT.

Witnesses:

GEORGE V. T RNER, NELLE RYAN.

Qopies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, I). C. 

